Jon or kayaks

[gall]

So I see a lot of post lately about budget boats and I'm in the same boat no pun in tented so my basic dilemma is I want something for the middle branch susky mainly Halifax area down thru York area I'd any guys are familiar and a few creeks close by  it would be mainly me girlfriend and i my budget would be about 5k without any type of loan u found plently of listings on Craigslist for 16ft semi v jons and trackers in the price range I'm just debating if it getting a used boat over 2 kayaks would be a better investment granted I have a paddle outfitters close by that sells ws nucanoe slayers and Hobbie I mean I can get 2 radars with if I chose pedal or motor for roughly same price as a Jon just not sure what is the better option any suggestions or input would be great I've gone back and forth too many times to count 

[Jim McC]

Your type would make more sense if you used periods. 

[gall]

In that case I'll make it cut and dry susky river. Which would be better? Jon boat or kayaks? Budget 5k get used boat or get 2 nice kayaks. Which better choice 

[Turkey sandwich]

I'm on the North Branch a lot and have built out my Lure 13.5 for it.  Between electronics and rigging, I probably have $2500+ into it without including my trailer.  The only negative is that paddling upstream on a wide kayak or into a strong headwind is a legit workout, and by next year I'll probably rig a trolling motor on the stern.  Other than that, I have absolutely zero complaints about the kayak for river fishing, and absolutely love mine.  Pedal drive can make some of this easier, but the Susquehanna has tons of shallow riffles, boulder fields, and ledges to mind with a pedal drive.  Have you fished from a kayak before? Paddled on the river?  I'd suggest visiting that nearby shop and having a conversation about what your needs are.  Personally, I prefer the kayak over anything other than a jet boat on the river.  

[gall]

Yeah that's why I lean towards a kayak and yes both paddle and fished and that's why I lean towards kayaks cause sit gives me the ability to fish skinny creeks around here where a Jon boat would struggle and Ive found used Jon's with jets but I'm mechanically inclined but boat motors are out of my league my only complaint is my local shop doesn't carry jackson and I love the coosa HD but curious as to how your gonna mount your trolling motor I've tossed the idea of motor or pedal nut like you said the riffles and all the other obstacles pedal drive could be more harm then good and even with my. Girlfriends kayak she doesn't need a depth finder or anything so that saves some money there between you turkey and just me typing this kayaks sound like a better idea by thr minute 

[SummertimeCarl]

For small water on a budget I usually suggest a kayak as they require no maintenance, are easy to transport, and are still useful if someone decides to buy a big bass boat later on.

 

However, with a $5k budget I'd probably go with a flat-bottomed jon with a newer low HP motor.  In my opinion (I said IN MY OPINION) kayaks that require a trailer don't make sense.  The advantage to my kayak is that I can throw it in the back of my truck, hop in the water for an hour and a half, throw it back in and be home for dinner.  If I had a trailer in the mix I'd rather just buy a 16' jon I could stand up in and not have to worry about paddling (or pedaling even).  

 

Having said that, I am from KY and have absolute no idea what the susky river looks like.  

[gall]

Best way to put it the normal flow for my part of the river is around 3 ft throw in areas half of that depth and giant boulders you got the sesquhanna river ha

[SummertimeCarl]

 

18 minutes ago, gall said:

Best way to put it the normal flow for my part of the river is around 3 ft throw in areas half of that depth and giant boulders you got the sesquhanna river ha

Ohhhh okay I didn't realize the water was that skinny.  In that case I would opt for the kayak then.  I was thinking of larger deeper rivers like the Ohio.

[gall]

Oh it's broad but shallow in my area for the most part there's areas where it's 40' plus but yeah jet boat is the way around here if I had 30k sitting around there's a company locally that makes incredible ones but I'm working on getting a house with the girlfriend so sadly priorities and I plan to top the kayaks I have an suv and used to have a 14ft canoe so I'm no stranger to topping them 

[Turtle135]

Being a die hard kayak fisherman I am probably more than a little biased but I would think a pair kayaks would suit you and your girl friend better, particularly on the Susky. You can float with stealth into all the nooks and crannies on those ledges systems with a kayak. Even a jet a boat has to be careful where they go. 

 

Yes, granted, paddling up stream into a head wind is a workout when the river is up but perhaps the two of you could shuttle (drop a vehicle at the take out and head up river to the put in)?

 

Torqueedo makes electric motors that work well on kayaks (although they are fairly expensive units). They tilt up out of the way when you get into skinny water and the batteries only weigh about 9 pounds.

 

http://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/outboards/ultralight

 

Here is a susky smallmouth I got yesterday right around Harrisburg. I was within 20' of her in my kayak when she bit.

 

[gall]

How'd you do in the tourney I'm assuming that was the bmo smallmouth tourney ha I hope you did well and I saw those motors before I'm curious how well they are spare battery is the price of some kayaks with that said I've been eyeballing the radar 115for the both of us that way we can navigate the creeks that fees in the susky and luckily we have the ability to have a vehicle down stream I mean the more hearing from everyone kayak is the way to go for time being we can paddle and down the road get motors if needed I rarely fish lakes so that's why I'm looking at the shorter lengths for the kayaks and granted the atak are nice but checking them both out at bmo I think the radar will suit are needs 

[Turtle135]

Yes, that was the BMO tournament. Had a blast. I came in 14th out of 55. Spent too much time catching 12-inch bass on a couple of shallow river ledges. I knew I needed to move but it's kind of hard to leave biting smallies when their first move after being hooked is to launch 3 feet into the air! 

 

Are you leaning towards the Radar over the ATAK because of the pedal drive option on the Radar? I know they both are very stable platforms. My buddies stand, fish and set hooks out of either without a concern.

 

 

[gall]

Haha I know exactly what you mean they fight you like there 5lbs but congrats that's great but I think mainly slightly higher walls I noticed the atak sits extremely low and I understand the reason for it with wind shearing but there are some things in the atak I do like the large hatch thru hall it has 

[Turkey sandwich]

please punctuate your posts.  

[gall]

Will do sorry use my phone, but after everyone's input on here. I decided I'll go the kayak route, and add on different propulsion systems if need be. I think the mean time paddling will do just fine.